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* ProPublica Illinois and NPR Illinois…
Since last year, allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct have surfaced against three professors and an administrator at the University of Illinois’ flagship campus in Urbana-Champaign. In each instance, the public wasn’t told by the university until news organizations or others brought the allegations to light.
A review of public records by NPR Illinois and ProPublica revealed three additional, previously unreported cases in which professors facing similar allegations were allowed to quietly resign or remain on the payroll in lieu of being fired.
Some of the employees accumulated multiple complaints over a period of years. Here’s a breakdown of the cases reviewed:
* “At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Preserving the Reputations of Sexual Harassers”…
By the time officials at the University of Illinois’ flagship campus in Urbana-Champaign found that an assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine had engaged in sexual harassment, three women had come forward to raise concerns about his behavior.
All three said he had showed up at their homes uninvited.
Though the professor, Valarmathi Thiruvanamalai, denied doing anything wrong, the university office that investigates harassment and discrimination claims ruled against him. “When three different complainants, who have no prior relationship and no significant commonalities other than the lab in which they work, all assert the same type of interaction, one must question Respondent’s credibility and honesty in responding to the allegations,” a specialist in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Access wrote in February 2015 following an investigation. She recommended that Thiruvanamalai face discipline and possibly termination.
Instead, the university took a series of steps that helped keep Thiruvanamalai’s reputation intact.
* Related…
* Experienced Sexual Misconduct at an Illinois University or College? We Want to Hear From You
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 27, 19 @ 9:37 am
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Considering the number of allegations found that didn’t violate “University policy”, they might want to rethink their policies.
Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Aug 27, 19 @ 9:47 am
How far do you want to go back with this, if you go back to the 1960″s., it is my opinion that a lot of profs graves will be disturbed.
Comment by the old man Tuesday, Aug 27, 19 @ 10:00 am
==How far do you want to go back with this,==
The world has changed, recognition of what does constitute sexual harassment has thankfully become more focused (and reasonable) and there are far more women in the labs and sciences today than in the “1960’s”. The documentation of many recent examples of this harassment in the pro-publica piece are more than sufficient to see that something is very, very ethically wrong with the way the University of Illinois has been handling and hiding these cases. This report should disturb any Illinois taxpayer but as an alum it is particularly painful to read about.
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Aug 27, 19 @ 10:15 am
I am deeply disappointed in my alma matter today. But considering how they handled sexual assault claims against students when I was there, especially when the accused was in a wealthy fraternity, it is not surprising. Their reputation and endowment take precedence over the safety of their students. Shame on UIUC. Do better. Time is up.
Comment by the north Tuesday, Aug 27, 19 @ 12:01 pm
Many universities have these issues with students at least in the past afraid to speak out.
Comment by Just a Citizen Tuesday, Aug 27, 19 @ 4:57 pm
The best thing I’ve read all day is the reddit post about the UIUC professor hiring a young woman through seeking arrangements.
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Aug 28, 19 @ 12:01 am